Circuit closer



I Aug. 9-, 1927.

- 1,638,439 A. H. HOPFNER v CIRCUIT CLOSER File d June 8, 1926 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 9, 1927.

UNITED STATES Par-Ear QFF'ICEM,

CIRCUIT CLOSE-B,

Application filed June a, 1926.; Serial no. -1 4,3ea

The main object of thisIinvention is to provide a circuit, closer which .is used in combination with an alarm clock for the purpose of closing a circuit automatically at a predetermined time. so that a filament lamp illuminates .a chamber or room at the time desired. This invention is particularly useful at the waking hour, at'which time the shaft'o'f the springdrum of aniala'rm, clock rotates and the circuit closer coupled to this spring drum shaft is released when said shaft makes a half turn. A lever falls and closest-he circuit thru a filament lamp which is thereby illuminated and remains so until the circuit is again opened by a switch.

The above and other objects will become apparent in the description below,in which characters of reference refer to like-named parts in the drawing.

- Referring briefly to the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the circuit closer, showing its cooperation with an alarm clock.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the circuit closer with the cover removed and showing the electrical circuit schematically;

Figure 3 is a sectional elevational view taken on line 33 of Figure 2. I

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 10 indicatesa panel which serves as a base for the circuit closer. The circuit closer consists of a housing having side walls 11 and 12 and end walls 13 and 14 which latter join the side walls. These walls form a chamber 15 in which the entire circuit closermechanism is located. The chamber 15 is entirely enclosed by a cover 16 which may be secured in place in any desirable manner. The side walls 11 and 12 of the housing are provided with apertures intermediate their length in which sockets 17 and 18 are fixedly inserted. Thes sockets are secured in place as desired and are provided with rectangular channels 19 into which the plug pins of complemental plug sockets 20 are inserted. A lead 21 connects in series the terminals of both sockets 17 and 18. The remaining'terminals of each of these plugs 17 and 18 has a wire22 leading from its respective plug to individual terminal plates 23 and 24. These terminal plates have upstanding fingers 25 which are separated from each other by a gap. A pair of ears 26 and 27 are mounted within the chamber 15 and are spaced-apart from each other. In the space between the ears 26 and 27, one end of a substantially horizontal lever 28 is pivoted. Said .lever. superimposed I over the fingers25 and the lever is provided with a pintle '29, conical in shape, over its fingers so thatjwhen said lever is lowered, the pintle contacts with both fingers and closes the gap therebetween. This lever is constructed of some insulating material such'as bakelite and its free end extends 'out of the housing thru a vertical slot 30 formed in the wall 13. Said extending end 'haslan arn 3fl' ri id therewith and from said arm an adjustable bar 32 extends This bar is fastened inplace by a wing bolt 33 which permits adjustment of the bar 32 witlrrespect to the arm 31. I The .end of the bar 232 has a bailed head 34 thereon which isadapted to fit into a hemispherical socket '35 formed in the outer end of a coupling block socket and communicates with the plug lead of a lighting circuit and the opposite lead wire 45 passes thru the remaining plug 47 thru a filament lamp 48 which is in series circuit with the wire 45 and then'passes to the minus lead of the electrical circuit.

In using the circuit closer, the block 36 is mounted on the wing nut, as shown in Figure 1, by permitting the wing portion 39 of member 40 to enter into the slots 37 in such manner that the socket 35 isopen at the top. Before this is done, however, the spring drum actuating the alarm mechanism of the clock is tensed. Theballed head 34 mounted at the end of the bar 32 is then inserted into the socket 35. The lever, when inserted into the socket. should be in lifted position out of contact with the fingers 25 so that the circuit thru the lamp 42 is open. One of the plugs 20 which has the switch 44 in circuit therewith is plugged into the socket 17 and the switch fixture is carried to anypart of the room in which it is used. The remaining member 20 is plugged into thesocket 18, thus connecting the electrical circuit leads indicated by the symbols plus and minus with the circuit closer. When the predetermined time to which the alarm clock has been set has arrived, the alarm mechanism is actuated by being tripped in the usual manner, and

as this is being done, the-spring drum begins and causes the circuit to be closed to illumimate the lamp 48, for which purpose the device is constructed. The circuit closer is particularly useful during the waking hour, and after the user is' awakened, he may, if desired, open the circuit by operating the switch 44.

It is to be noted that certain changes in form and construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Iclaim:

1. In the combination of an alarm clockand a circuit closer, a lever extending from said. circuit closer, a balled head rigid at the :a slotted block, and means in said block for supporting the balled end of the lever in raised position.

2. in the combination of an alarm clock and a circuit closer having a lever extending from said circuit closer, a balled head at the free end of said lever, means mounted on the alarm mechanism of said clock engageablc with said balled head for holding said lever in raised position comprising a slotted block, a hemispherical socket in said block normally receiving said balled end of said lever, said block when rotated 180 degrees being adapted to reverse the open portion of said socket and permit falling of said balled end of said lever to close a circuit, and means for adjusting the alignment of said lever.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signa ture.

ARNO a; HOPFNER. 

